Background

In 2021, a national survey was carried out among 7,901 students and 3,516 staff to monitor the experiences of students and staff in relation to sexual violence and harassment in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ireland and their awareness and confidence in HEI policies, processes, and initiatives in the area.1,2

Overall, the survey found that students and staff felt safe from sexual harassment at their HEI. A majority of students were aware and had seen awareness-raising campaigns on consent, sexual violence, or harassment on social media or Students’  Union campaigns and posters.

This comprehensive survey included extensive and detailed findings from both the student and staff surveys. However, for the purposes of this article, sexual violence pertaining to alcohol and/or drug use mentioned by students is summarised. This includes where sexual violence was reported and the student taken advantage of when too drunk or ‘out of it’ to stop what was happening, and the reporting of drug and/or alcohol use prior to the incident by the perpetrator and by the student who experienced the sexual violence. 

Sexual violence when student was drunk or incapacitated

One part of the student survey looked at sexual violence where the student was too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening. It contained questions about the experience of sexual violence, which included non-consensual sexual touching, oral sex, vaginal penetration, anal penetration, being made to perform anal or vaginal sex, as well as attempted oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Students were provided with a statement at the beginning of each section and asked if the statement applied to them. Those that completed this section of the survey were then asked to complete further follow-up questions relating to the sexual violence experienced. 

Non-consensual sexual touching

The experience of non-consensual sexual touching when the student was too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening was reported by 31.3% of students. It was more commonly reported by female students (36.2%) and non-binary students (30.6%) compared with 12.9% of males and 19.2% of those who preferred not to disclose their gender. 

Non-consensual oral sex

Overall, 13.5% of students reported experiencing non-consensual oral sex by being taken advantage of when they were too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening. This was more common among female students (15.3%) and non-binary students (13.4%). 

Non-consensual vaginal penetration

Over one-quarter of female students (28.2%) and 24.1% of non-binary students reported that they experienced non-consensual vaginal penetration when they were too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening. When examining such experiences by sexual orientation, 33.8% of bisexual women and 27.2% of heterosexual women said they had such an experience. 

Non-consensual anal penetration

Non-binary students were more likely to report experiencing non-consensual anal penetration when they were too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening (6%), followed by 5.9% of female students. When broken down by sexual orientation, gay, lesbian, queer and other students were more likely to report this experience (8%), followed by bisexual students.

Being made to perform vaginal or anal sex

The experience of being made to perform anal and/or vaginal sex when they were too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening was reported by 6.6% of male students and 14.3% of non-binary students. When analysed by sexual orientation, 7.1% of bisexual, 7.1% of gay, lesbian, queer or other students, and 6.6% of heterosexual students reported being made to perform vaginal or anal sex while too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening. 

Attempted oral, anal, or vaginal sex

Compared with male students (6.3%), female (21.8%), non-binary (18.7%) and students who preferred not to disclose their gender (19.2%) experienced a higher rate of attempted oral, anal, or vaginal penetration while too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening. Bisexual (24.4%) and gay, lesbian, queer and other (18.9%) students were more likely to report this experience than heterosexual students (17.4%).

Table 1: Percentage of students who said the other person had been using alcohol or drugs prior to the sexual violence incident, by gender and for the total sample

Table 2: Percentage of students who said that the other person had been using alcohol or drugs prior to the sexual violence incident, by sexual orientation

Table 3: Percentage of students who had been using alcohol or drugs prior to the sexual violence incident, by gender and for the total sample

Sexual violence follow-up questions

The students who reported experiencing sexual violence were asked if they would like to complete a further set of questions about the sexual violence. Of those who answered the items on sexual violence, 42.8% of the students agreed to answer follow-up questions. 

Perpetrator use of alcohol and/or drugs prior to incident

One of the follow-up questions asked whether alcohol or drugs were being used by the other person prior to the incident. Alcohol was the most commonly reported substance used by the person responsible for the violence, reported by 52% of the students who responded (see Table 1).

Heterosexual students (55.3%) were most likely to indicate that the person who was responsible for the violence had been using alcohol prior to the incident, followed by bisexual students (47.9%) (see Table 2). 

Student use of alcohol and/or drugs prior to incident

Students were also asked if they had been using drugs and/or alcohol prior to the sexual violence experience. The majority of students who experienced sexual violence reported consuming alcohol before the incident occurred (68.5%) and over one-quarter stated they had not been using drugs or alcohol before the incident (25.9%) (see Table 3).

Heterosexual students were most likely to report the consumption of alcohol prior to the incident (72%), followed by bisexual students (64.4%). Less likely to report having consumed alcohol before the incident were those who preferred not to disclose their sexual orientation (54.8%) and gay, lesbian, queer and other students (54.9%). 

Conclusion

This short summary of just one section of the report on student experiences of sexual violence in HEIs raises important concerns regarding students experiencing sexual violence when too drunk or out of it to stop what was happening or to give consent to what was happening. It also highlights the extent of alcohol and other drug use among perpetrators prior to the incident. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science intend to use the results of the survey, as well as the staff survey results, to inform policy and funding decisions to tackle sexual violence and harassment in HEIs.
 

1  MacNeela P, Dawson K, O’Rourke T, Healy-Cullen S, Burke L and Flack WF (2022) Report on the National Survey of Student Experiences of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions. Dublin: Higher Education Authority. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/35563/

2  MacNeela P, Dawson K, O’Rourke T, Healy-Cullen S, Burke L and Flack WF (2022) ) Report on the National Survey of Staff Experiences of Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish HEIs. Dublin: Higher Education Authority.
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/35563/